by Maureen Kellen-Taylor, Ph.D.

Somewhere in our 60s or 70s we are moved to reappraise our lives. This may be precipitated by retirement, by losing friends or by realizing that our children are wrapped up in their own lives. Our houses, that were perfect for us while working, entertaining and raising our families, now seem empty and echo with memories of the past. We know that change is upon us and downsizing seems like a good idea. But downsizing to what?

When considering downsizing and moving, it is important to plan ahead and choose the best situation for you – one that will provide the quality of life that not only serves you in the present, but will also help to maintain independence and enjoyment that is so important for everyone.

In this article I hope to briefly describe what is available for people who hope to live a healthy, active and successful lifestyle into their old age.

Successful aging is a popular new concept which is affecting the whole process of how we age. Understanding what composes successful aging, and what to look for in a living situation that supports it, is important in making the decisions of how and where you will want to spend the rest of your life.

What is successful aging? Very simply, it means remaining actively engaged in life on physical, mental, spiritual and relational levels. It is the process of biologically aging while retaining a sense of purpose and confidence that you can continue to master new skills, enjoy meeting new people and embrace new interests. Social networks are very important in making this happen. Where you live can enhance or detract from your efforts to age successfully. Choosing the best situation means finding a place that will not only support the quality of life that serves you in the present, but will also help you to maintain that quality of life and all the activities which contribute to it as the years go by.

In order to make an informed choice, it is useful to assess the challenges you currently face, or may face in the future, and learn about the things available to help you meet those challenges. When it comes to housing, it is extremely important to know what to look for, what is available, and what you will need in order to thrive.

FINDING THE RIGHT PLACE FOR YOU

What are the choices available to you? In Southern California the wide range of housing options include the following:

• Shared housing, where a group of unrelated and independent individuals choose to live communally and share housework, chores and companionship. A few of these groups are for seniors only. Shared housing includes intentional communities (www.ic.org), co-housing (www.cohousing.org), and ecovillages (www.ecovillager.org).

• Multifamily housing, which often consists of apartments or condominiums that offer independent living for both families and seniors. These facilities provide all the pluses and minuses of coexistence with multiple generations. The U.S. Department of Housing Web site broadly describes these options at www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/hsgabout.cfm

• Senior apartment complexes, for those over 55 or 60 that range widely in the amenities they provide. While some of these facilities still adhere to outdated policies on aging, more and more are abandoning the old ways and embracing the active community and “lifestyle” concept.
  

THE TRADITIONAL VIEW OF AGING

This old school of thought holds that as people age they disengage, that they inevitably do less and less and limit their social relationships. Adhering to this old school concept, organizations and facilities simply make people comfortable and look after them more and more as they continue to decline. Often, the staff in facilities like this view residents as children and they treat them that way. This style of living is not living at all. These facilities handle basic care and ignore the incorporation of a wide range of interests and activities. This is a recipe for disaster being as that when a person stops exercising they will lose muscle tone in just two short weeks and this loss of tone can be extrapolated to all the areas of life – memory, cognition, skills, relating to others and so on.

ACTIVE AGING

The new school of thought holds that as we age we become more of who we are, that we can continue to learn, grow and adapt. It promotes optimizing aging, successful aging, and that continuing to exercise our bodies, our brains, our imagination and our social natures is essential. The old saying: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” has been proven, not just to be false, but also a tremendous handicap. People who believe they are too old to learn new things will live out their fears. In fact, canine research has proven that old dogs actually can learn new tricks. Similarly the human brain can renew itself well into the eighties and beyond if people continue to learn new things. I know 90 year olds who have learned to paint, 80 year olds who have learned to act, and 70 year olds who work and learn along side high school students.

THE EMPLOYMENT OF ACTIVE AGING INTO LIVING COMMUNITIES

Active aging apartment complexes typically offer a range of classes and social programs. The best of these are designed to include spaces for all numerous programs, computer rooms, movie theaters, swimming pools, exercise rooms and classrooms. Some even have studios for sculpture and painting and theaters for acting and performing and garden space for planting.

The best active aging apartment communities employ a professional staff that encourages residents to dust off their dreams and pick up where they may have left off many years ago with their writing, photograph, music or art. They understand what successful aging is and how to present opportunities for people to grow and learn and enjoy themselves by doing so. They design programs based on what the residents want to learn or to be involved in while also addressing the mind and body, the intellect, the creative spark and the desire to contribute to the community. They present challenges, encourage efforts and celebrate accomplishments.

The best active aging complexes provide opportunities for residents to share skills and knowledge with their neighbors and the younger generation; to join classes in yoga and learn exercises that include fall prevention, flexibility and balance as well as cardio; to learn new skills in the arts; new languages; to make new friendships based on new interests; and most importantly to really live, enjoy life and have fun.

In these communities participants enjoy their lives, follow their dreams, and while doing so, provide younger generations with the hope that aging means living life as fully as you ever have.

A CHECKLIST OF WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN ACTIVE AGING COMMUNITY

• A community that is accepting and supportive of your interests. Ask yourself, does the place offer opportunities to meet neighbors, to socialize with them, to share interests and talents? Does it respect your need for privacy?

• A community that encourages physical well-being. Does it offer exercise classes tailored to seniors, walking clubs, information on healthy living and nutrition classes?

• A community that is situated in a safe neighborhood with amenities within walking distance and a good transit system.

• A community that encourages you to be creative, to learn new skills in writing, acting, singing, performing, drawing - and celebrates your progress.

• A community with staff who relate to you as an adult with dignity, respect, professionalism and proper experience. Do the employees enjoy their work, listen to your ideas and seem to be treated well by their employers? Remember, a disgruntled staff, or a community with frequent turnover should throw up a big red flag. If the community does not show care for their employers, what would make you think they will care for you?

You can add your own thoughts and questions to this list and then make the move on taking on your new lease on life!

Maureen Kellen-Taylor has been working in the field of aging for 30 years. She has brought the concept of seniors reinventing themselves to thousands living in San Francisco and Los Angeles. She is the recipient of the California Arts Council Directors Award for a lifetime commitment to the arts and currently serves as the chief operating officer of EngAge providing services in wellness, creativity, lifelong learning and community building to 19 active aging apartment complexes throughout Southern California.

BURBANK SENIOR ARTISTS COLONY

For artists, aspiring artists, or those who simply want to live in a community filled with social creative people, the Burbank Senior Artists Colony was designed to promote the art of active aging. This unique rental community is located in a safe and convenient downtown Burbank location. A first-of-its-kind, 141-unit senior apartment community, the Burbank Senior Artists Colony employs EngAGE, an award winning nationally recognized non-profit organization, to design, implement and manage programs in wellness, creativity, life-long learning and community building. These programs offer residents opportunities to learn and grow, as well as share their experience and expertise. The community features a theater group, a chorus, a fine arts collective, writing and poetry groups, and intergenerational arts and gardening programs that are offered in conjunction with the local school district. The building’s amenities for artists and would-be artists in their second 50 years of creativity include: a 45-seat theatre and screening room for films and live performances by both resident and visiting actors, artists and musicians, art studios and classrooms, a computer lab and a media arts center, a library, outdoor performance areas and an art Gallery and sculpture garden. For more information call (818) 955-9391 or click on www.seniorartistscolony.com. Stay Active! Get Creative! Be inspired!